How the Photos app and iCloud Photos handle RAW images

Learn how to work with RAW images using iCloud Photos and Photos for macOS.

iCloud Photos keeps your photos and videos up to date on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Mac. If your photo library includes images in RAW format, you can view and edit them on your Mac or iPad.

About RAW files on your Mac

The availability of RAW files on your Mac depends on a few conditions:

If you have the Download Originals to this Mac option turned on in Photos (Photos > Preferences > iCloud > Download Originals to this Mac), then your RAW files are always present in Photos on your Mac.

If you have the Optimize Mac Storage option turned on, then your RAW files are stored in iCloud Photos. The Photos app saves disk space on your Mac by displaying optimized JPEG versions of your RAW images. If you edit an optimized image on your Mac, Photos downloads the RAW file for that image.

When Photos downloads a RAW image from iCloud Photos, it creates a new full-sized JPEG for optimal viewing on your Mac. It won't replace the RAW and embedded JPEG file already stored in iCloud. iOS devices will view the embedded JPEG.

RAW files that you store outside the Photos app library (for example, in your Pictures folder) are always present on your Mac, but aren't stored in iCloud and won't stay up to date in the Photos app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

About RAW files imported to iPad with the Camera Connection Kit

If you import RAW images to an iPad with the Camera Connection Kit, turn on Download Originals or edit the images on your Mac so that the files are available on your Mac in iCloud Photos.